CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Pictured is an artists rendition of the proposed MEMBERS1st Credit Union building to be erected near the new Fareway.

MEMBERS1st Community Credit Union announces plans to construct a 10,000-square-foot full-service branch and administrative facility on West Anson Street, adjacent to the new Fareway store.

“MEMBERS1st is excited to be part of the renewal of central Marshalltown,” said MEMBERS1st CEO Janet Borer. “The new location will be a center not only for financial services, but also for community gatherings and financial education for all Marshalltown residents.”

The building will utilize state-of the-art technologies to deliver in-person banking services including biometric access to safe deposit boxes and Interactive Teller Machines for self-service or assisted cash services. The new administrative center will enable the credit union to enlarge its phone, digital and video banking services, including offering expanded support for its Spanish-speaking members. Additional gathering space will be utilized for lunch-and-learn events and classes related to consumer topics and financial wellness.

“This community and its amazing people helped make us the 18,000-member strong credit union we are today, and we cherish that connection,” said Tami Lichtenberg, chairperson of the MEMBERS1st Board of Directors. “This new facility will be the heart of MEMBERS1st. Thanks to the community’s support, we’ve outgrown our current Marshalltown spaces on Center Street and 12th Avenue. By relocating to this new branch, we will be able to serve our members and the community better than ever before.”

MEMBERS1st opened its doors in Marshalltown as Fisher Credit Union in 1964 and continued as Central Iowa Credit Union, before becoming MEMBERS1st. Through mergers with other home-grown credit unions, its service area has expanded to 14 central Iowa counties with branches in Traer, Ames, Iowa Falls, Eldora, Boone and Marshalltown. In 2019, MEMBERS1st opened its newest branch inside the JBS plant in Marshalltown to offer on-site financial services and education to the workforce of one of the community’s largest employers. Additionally, MEMBERS1st has begun an in-depth process to assess and address the specific needs of the Hispanic community in order to provide the best service experience to this growing population.

“Our commitment to Marshalltown remains strong,” said Lichtenberg. “We intend to work hard to be part of the outstanding community effort to rebuild and reinvigorate our hometown. We are here for the long haul!”

MEMBERS1st will break ground on the $7 million facility this fall, with completion planned for fall of 2023. Thirty staff will work at the new location. It will include a full-service branch, drive-thru services, administrative space, a member contact center and a community meeting space. Tenant space will allow for introduction of complimentary services to credit union members. The West Anson building is being designed by the La Macchia Group LLC, Milwaukee, Wis.

Headquartered in Marshalltown, MEMBERS1st Community Credit Union is a member-owned, cooperative financial institution with more than $244 million in total assets and provides financial services to 18,000 Iowans. The credit union employs 60 Iowans who provide services to members at branches in Ames, Boone, Eldora, Iowa Falls, Marshalltown and Traer or via electronic means. Membership is open to people who live, work, worship or attend school in Marshall, Story, Boone, Dallas, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Jasper, Polk, Poweshiek, Tama and Webster Counties. Membership is also available to family members of current members.